Toy catapult



J. T. COPAS Nov. 10, 1931.

TOY CATAPULT Filed March 21, 1930 1 SZW Z @M/ Patented Nov. 10, 1931PATENT OFFICE JOHN '1'. COPAS, OF ELYBIA, OHIO- TOY CATAPULT Applicationfiled March 21, 1930. Serial R0. 437,862.

This invention relates to games and toys and particularly to games andtoys of the class in which aerial projectiles are thrown.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved gameapparatus for throwing aerial projectiles.

Another object is to provide an improved rojectile throwing device ofthe resilient or oad and fire type. I

Another object is to providean aerial projectile of im rovedconstruction.

Another 0 ject is to provide an aerial projectile and a throwing orprojecting device therefor, constructed to act in coordination with eachother in a manner to facilitate accurately aiming the projectile.

Another object is to provide anaerial projectile toy and game apparatuswhich will be novel in construction, cheap to manufacture and assemble,attractive in appearance and pleasing to observe in operation.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to whichmyinvention pertains.

. My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 1s a view illustrating an embodiment of my invention, showing anaerial projectile, a projecting device therefor and the mode ofoperation thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view of the projecting device of Fig. 1 taken approximatelyfrom the plane 2 of Fi 1 5 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the aerialprojectile, shown in side elevation of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 2, I show at 1 a substantially circularloop of wire or other suitable relatively stiff material bent into theform of a circle and havin the free ends 3-3 thereof bent outwardl raially and ress fitted or otherwise secure in a suit-able ore in a handle2, the handle extending radially away from-the circular loop 1. As

indicated in Fi 1, the ends 33 of the loop may be wedge into the bore ofthe handle by wedges Disposed substantially at the center of thecircular loop 1 is a ring 5 composed of metal, celluloid, or likerelatively hard materlal.

The ring 5 is suspended in position centrally of the loop 1 by aplurality such as three resilient bands 6, 6, 6. The ring 5 and bands 6may be of any suitable construction whereby to render them cheap and tofacilitate the assembling thereof with the loop 1, but I prefer toemploy for the bands 6 ordinary rubber bands of the. type which may bepurchased in quantities and ate. very small cost from stationers supplyhouses or which may be made especially for the purpose by the well knowncheap methods of production of the same.

.. Such bands as is well known are in the form relation around theband 1. The inner ends of the bands 6 are then connected to or loopedwith the ring 5: To effect this, the rin 5 is preferably split and theopen end of each and 6 is passed through the split to the interior ofthe ring 5 into the ositions shown in Fig. 2 and then the split c osedup and if preferred, a sleeve 8 of rubber or other suitable material maybe employed to cover u the split portion or joint of the ring 5. tion,the ring 5 is preferabl made by bending a piece of wire into circu arform with the ends approximately abutting.

The bands 6 are preferably provided of such length with respect to thediameter of the loop 1 that when assembled with the rin 5 they will beunder a slight degree of tension.

The preferred form of pro ectile adapted to be used with the device ofig. 2 is shown separately in Fig. 3. It comprises a head or base 8 whichmay be of cylindrical or other desired form and provided with atransverse shoulder 9 from which extends at substantially a right anglethereto a shaft or stem 10. The end of the head opposite the shaft 10may be covered with a piece of felt, plush or the like 11. Secured inthe head 8 and extending in the general direction of the shaft 10 is aplurality such as three feathers, 12.

n this connec- The feathers may be secured in the head 8 by insertingthe quills in suitable holes drilled or otherwise formed therein.Preferably the feathers 12 are so disposed relative to the shaft 10 thatthey are symmetrical about the shaft axis and diverge outwardlytherefrom and upon inserting them into the receptacle holes therefor inthe head .8 each feather is twisted or rotated slightly about its quillaxis whereby the projectile when projected through the air in thedirection of the shaft 10, is given a whirling or screwing movementthrough the air;

In theoperation of the. projecting device and aerial projectile abovedescribed,-the handle 2 is grasped by the operator in one hand, say hisleft hand as shown inFi J' 1. ith his other hand, he grasps the hea8 ofthe projectile of Fig, 3 and inserts the outer extreme end of the shaft10 through thering 5 from the right to the left direction as viewed inFig. 1 and then with his right hand grasps the free end of the shaft 10.He then'pulls upon the shaft 10 causin the shoulder 9 of the head toabut upon t e ring 5 and to stretch the bands 6-6. Upon releasing theshaft 10, the projectile will be shot forward and out of the device.

It will be observed that when the shaft 10 is inserted through the ring5, each of the feathers will occupy'the space outside of the ring andbetween a pair of adjacent bands 6 and u on discharging the projectilethe feathers w1ll leave the device with the projectile without foulingwith any part thereof.

When the projectile is fired horizontally, the feathers not only givethe screwing movement or rifling movement to the projectile durin itsflight, but cause thehead 8 to prece e the other part of the projectilethroughout the flight thereof. When the projectile is fired verticallyinto the air, upon reaching the top of its flight, and when it starts tofall, the feathers cause it to turn over and fall with the head 8downwardly in a very pleasing manner. The employment of the apparatusdescribed is rendered pleasing in effect by colorin the feathersdiversely with colors such as re white and blue. The pad 11 serves thepurpose of deadening the blow of the pro'ectile u on striking an object,which may e desira le when the device is employed indoors or in thevicinity of windows or the like.

The employment of three or more symmetrically disposed bands 6 balancesthe pull of the bands on the projectile prior to its discharge in themanner to greatly facilitate accurately aiming the projectile.Eurthermore, the construction of the projectile providing the stem 10and the feathers 12 by which the projectile may be fired and by which itwill always proceed with the head 8 in advance whether firedhorizontally or vertically, enables the device to be employed in gamessimilar to the game of battle door and shuttle cock.

I have shown only one form of projectile, but many forms may be devisedWithin the scope of my invention and will occur to those skilled in thisart, for example, if it be desired to employ the device to fireprojectiles at a target, the projectile may have the head8 provided witha pointed or rounded end instead of the pad 11, or an arrow head may beprovided instead of the massive head 8 indicated; and if desired thefeathers 12 may be omitted and the shaft 10 relied upon tosteer or guidethe. projectile in its flight. In this connection a longer shaft 10 thanthat illustrated may be desirable.

My invention is not limited to the exact details shown and describedabove inasmuch as many changes in and modifications of my invention maybe made without departing from its scope. For example, springs may beemployed instead of the elastic bands 6'.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus for throwing aerial projectiles, a rigid loop, ahandle secured to the loop and projecting outwardly there'- from, a ringdisposed within the loop, a plurality of elastic elements disposedWithin the loop and connected each at one end to the loop and at theother end to the ring.

2. In a game apparatus for throwing aerial projectiles, a rigid circularloop, a handle secured to the loop and projecting outwardly radiallytherefrom in the plane of the loop,

a ring within the loop concentric therewith, a plurality of elasticbands disposed radially within the loop and connected each at one end tothe loop and at the other end tothe ring.

3. In a game apparatus for throwing aerial projectiles, the combinationof a throwin device comprising a ring, a plurality o elastic elementssecured each at one end to the ring and disposed radially about thering, a loop surrounding the ring, the elastic elements being secured attheir other ends to the loop, a handle on the loop; and a projectilecomprising a head provided with a shoulder and a shaft adapted to betelescoped through the ring and with the shoulder in engagement with thering.

4. In a game apparatus for throwing aerial projectiles, the combinationof a throwing device comprising a ring, a plurality of elastic elementssecured each at one end to the ring and dis osed radially about thering, a loop surroun ing the ring, the elastic elements being secured attheir other ends to the loop, a handle, on the -loop; and a projectilecomprisin a"jhead r gvided with a shoulder and a sha tadapmi to': betelescoped through the ring and'with the shoulder in engagement with thering, and the head being provided with a plurality of elongated vanesdisposed longitudinally with respect to the shaft and symmetricallythereabout, and the,

vanes each being adapted to be disposed between adjacent elastic bandswhen the shaft is telescoped through the ring.

5. In a game apparatus for throwing aerial projectiles, the combinationof an apertured throwing device, a plurality of elastic elements securedeach atone end to the said device and disposed radially thereto, a loop'

